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| Fionnuala Britton |
European cross-country champion Fionnuala Britton of Kilcoole leads the entry for Sunday’s Gerry Farnan/Sheila Brennan cross-country races, organised by the Metro St Brigid’s club in Dublin’s Phoenix Park (2.15).
Britton won the women’s race last year, paving the way for her victory at the European Championships in Slovenia. She then turned her attention to the track, running 31 min 29.22 secs for the 10,000m last April and then finishing fourth at the European Championships. At the London Olympics, Britton set a 15 mins 12.97 secs personal best for the 5000m and also ran the 10,000m.
She was a class apart at last year’s Gerry Farnan race, but faces a much tougher field this year. Ava Hutchinson of DSD, who ran the marathon at the London Olympics, hopes to join Britton on the Irish team at the European Cross-Country. So also does Scotland-based Sarah McCormack, who finished 15th at the World Mountain Running Championships and has a 15 mins 49 sec time for 5000m. Both are pencilled in for Sunday’s race.
Sitting it out are Linda Byrne and Mary Cullen of Sligo, who also hope to make the team for the Europeans. Byrne is training heavily at the moment, but still won the Limerick Women’s Mini Marathon at the weekend. Cullen is almost recovered from the injury problems that have beset her all year.
Last year’s winner of the Gerry Farnan men’s race was Joe Sweeney of DSD, who went on to take the national intercounty title. Michael Mulhare of Portlaoise led a chasing pack and he is expected to run on Sunday.
For the many master athletes who will make up the bulk of the entry on Sunday, the prize is a place on the Irish team for the British and Irish International in Belfast next month.
Names to watch out for include experienced internationals such as Niamh O’Sullivan of Riocht and Leevale’s Carmel Parnell, along with Ciaran O’Doherty of Letterkenny, Raheny’s Mick Traynor, who is back in training, and Tom O’Connor of Liffey Valley.
Also scheduled in a packed programme is the final round of the Dublin Juvenile League (11.0).
Linda Byrne of DSD, winner of the Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon earlier this year, led home over 2,000 finishers at the Limerick Women’s Mini Marathon in a time of 27 mins 1 sec for the five mile course. Second was Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisoleigh, another mini marathon regular.
Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe and Raheny’s Barbara Sanchez were the winners at the Donadea Forest 10km, while Joe McAllister of St Malachy’s and Breege Connolly of North Belfast were first man and woman at the Armagh ’10’.
Catherina McKiernan finished fifth overall and first woman at the Conemara 10km in 35 mins 36 secs.
Lorraine Manning and Mick Clohisey won the Teachers’ BHAA Cross-Country in Castleknock – the first BHAA Cross-country races of the season. Next up is the Dublin Marathon, followed by the Bank of Ireland Beach 5km in Dollymount on November 10. Why not register with the BHAA now? Details www.bhaa.ie.
First round of the Raheny Fit for Life Winter 2-Mile Series take places tonight (8pm), with six rounds taking place between now and Christmas. Entry is €30 for the series or €7 per race with registration at the Raheny clubhouse in Raheny village (behind scout’s den) from 7.15pm. Groups and individuals of all standard welcome.
An ideal way of keeping a check on your fitness and speed over the winter is the Alsaa Track Series of monthly time trials, alternating mile and 3000m races. First off next Tuesday is a mile race; entry is €4 or €20 for the seven-race series. That is followed by a 3000m on Tuesday November 30. Register on the night at the Alsaa, Dublin Airport. Info Gerry Martin 087-2132244,
The Phoenix Park is the venue on Sunday November 11 for the Remembrance Run 5km (11am). With November a month of remembering, starting with All Soul’s Day, the race invites men, women and children of all ages to run or walk in memory of loved ones and perhaps to raise money for a favourite charity. Entry fee is €20 for individuals or €50 for families of four. Each finisher will receive a specially designed souvenir candle, a certificate and a goody bag. Enter at www.remembrancerun.ie or call 01-8869933.
Entry is already open for the John Treacy Dungarvan 10-Mile Road Race on Sunday January 27. With numbers increasing every year, this year’s limit is 1,750 with January 14 the closing date if that limit isn’t reached. Details www.dungarvan10mile.org.
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